In the Sunshine State on this day in 1810 The territory between the Perdido River in West Florida and the Mississippi River was declared an independent republic by a convention meeting in Baton Rouge.  The republic lasted for a mere seventy-four days.

In 1823 Charged by the Territorial Legislature to find a site for the construction of a capital city, Dr. W. H. Simmons left St. Augustine heading west.  He was to make contact with John Lee Williams, who left Pensacola at about the same time.  The men were to meet approximately halfway between the two cities and select the site.  The site chosen was a small Indian village called Tallahassee.

In 1900 George Franklin Drew, twelfth governor of Florida (January 2, 1877-January 4, 1881) died today in Jacksonville. Drew was born in Alton, New Hampshire on August 6, 1827.  In 1847, he opened a machine shop in Columbus, Georgia.  In 1865, he built Florida’s largest sawmill at Ellaville in Madison County. Drew’s election marked the end of Reconstruction in Florida. 

In 1928 Health authorities at Belle Glade directed the burning of some 306 bodies of individuals who were killed in the violent hurricane of September 15-16.

In 1960 The University of South Florida opened to a charter class of 1,997 freshmen today.  The new university occupies a 1,672 acre site in northeastern Tampa.  John Lott Brown was the first president of USF.

In 1971 Astronaut and Brevard County resident James A. Lovell was awarded the Gold Space Medal today in Lucerne, Switzerland, for his “courageous achievements and leadership as the Commander of Apollo 13.”  Astronauts Fred W. Haise, Jr., and John L. Swigert, Jr., were presented with the V.M. Komarov Diploma for 1970.